NBL Division Two begins the 2019/20 season with a new look two conference format tomorrow, as 11 teams make up the Northern Conference and 10 teams are in the South. We take a look below at all the games scheduled for this weekend.
Manchester Magic will need to re-acclimatise themselves with D2 basketball following relegation last season. Magic won the D1 playoff title as recently as 2016/17, suffering a decline in the ensuing years before a 2-24 record last term and a return to the second tier for the first time since 2012/13.
That said, there is still plenty of reason for optimism in the North West. With a pipeline of competitive junior teams and a developing EABL programme, the roots are there for the Magic to grow once more.
Standing in their way of an opening day victory tomorrow will be Derbyshire Spartans, who were playing D3 basketball this time last year. A 17-5 regular season record shows that the Midlands outfit have plenty of quality and they’d love to start their season with a win.
Of the seven games in D2M this weekend, five of them are in the Northern Conference. Team Birmingham Elite host current National Shield holders University of Chester, whilst Loughborough Students Riders III are at home to Bristol Academy Flyers.
The two remaining fixtures see Myerscough College Preston play Sheffield Hallam Sharks and last season’s D4 playoff finalists Bristol Hurricanes take the trip north to play Derbyshire Arrows.
In the Southern Conference, Ipswich will get their season underway as they welcome Team Solent Kestrels II to Suffolk, whilst Essex Rebels make the journey to London to face Greenwich Titans.
3:00pm - Greenwich Titans v Essex Rebels - LIVE STATS
3:30pm - Loughborough Students Riders III v Bristol Academy Flyers - LIVE STATS
5:30pm - Ipswich Tomcats v Team Solent Kestrels II - LIVE STATS
6:30pm - Manchester Magic v Derbyshire Spartans - LIVE STATS
7:00pm - Team Birmingham Elite v University of Chester - LIVE STATS
4:00pm - Myerscough College Preston v Sheffield Hallam Sharks - LIVE STATS
4:15pm - Derbyshire Arrows v Bristol Hurricanes - LIVE STATS
